🔗 Share this article Trump Urges Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart. Border Tensions Escalate Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion. Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes. American Economic Leverage Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening. The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated a different official representative. Trump’s Tariff Threat Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads. The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.” Truce Deal Origins The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize. The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Longstanding Border Dispute The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation. Reuters contributed to this report.